Parents and Students,
Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year! Your 8th graders have come a long way over the past two years and we look forward to getting them prepared for high school.
During the first unit of your student's reading class, we will be exploring how authors convey their messages by analyzing their texts and comparing fictional and factual accounts of historic events. We will do this by examining the Sudanese Civil War and the book Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park and how the theme of human rights can be explored with the afforementioned reading skills.
During the first unit of your student's writing class, we will be exploring the issue of self-identity. Students will engage in the writing, editing and revision process by telling their story through the important moments in their lives.
As always, while exploring issues with culturally relevant implications, we invite family and community members to contribute to our classes. The unit syllabus will be sent home next Monday, August 26. As you go over the syllabus with your students, please feel free to contact me if you feel that you have something meaningful to contribute to the class.
We look forward to a successful year and we can't wait to start learning!
*I passed out the weekly schedule (as I will at the start of every week) on Monday for the week of August 19. The schedule was mistakenly labeled "September." Students can cross that off and write August. My apologies. Thank you.
Mr. A. Lamont Holden, M.A.
217-299-0013
holdenal@champaignschools.org
Supply List:
Three highlighters
One composition notebook
Two packs of 8 ½ x 11 reinforced filler notebook paper (replace as needed during the year)
Parents: In middle school, it's always cold anf flu season so if you can spare any tissue and/or hand sanitizer, we would greatly appreciate it.